Planet Improv was one of a small quantity of youth/student-centered nonprofit organizations who recently received the following email from The YWCA of the Central Carolinas.
Hello, Community Partner,
We are excited to invite you to learn more about YWCA’s youth programs and explore partnership possibilities. We believe that collaboratively uniting, to benefit students in Mecklenburg and Union Counties, can help accomplish each of our organization’s goals!
One of YWCA’s Youth Programs Department’s primary focus is working to increase community engagement with local community leaders. We hope to connect with neighboring businesses, clubs, churches, nonprofit organizations, and local government entities to build a network of leaders who share common goals and want to continue working towards mutually beneficial partnerships with our youth learning centers! These partnerships should enhance our students’ academic experience, while also benefiting participating organizations.
Currently, we are planning summer experiences for all eight of YWCA’s youth learning centers. Summer experiences are only possible with community partners such as you.
It would be our honor to invite you to join us at The Foundation for the Carolinas Uptown Charlotte on Thursday May 4.
When we come together around common goals, we truly can empower our children to thrive. We hope you can join us!
With gratitude,
Jasmine Hemphill, M.Ed
Literacy and Engagement Manager
YWCA of the Central Carolinas
And what a wonderful, inspiring meeting it was!
The good news…
This will be a wonderful opportunity for Planet Improv to continue to make a difference in the lives of a substantial quantity of at-risk youth/students throughout the eight YWCA’s youth learning centers in Mecklenburg and Union County (NC) this summer and beyond (afterschool sessions during the school year.)
The challenging news…
The YWCA (like Planet Improv) and many nonprofits’ budgets are not sufficient to compensate outside collaborators who can help us keep fulfilling our mission and serve our clients (in this case at-risk youth/students.)
The youth/students who will participate in the YWCA summer sessions do so free of charge.
So, we started thinking, who financially supports the YWCA?
After some research we found three large local organizations: Bank of America; Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas amongst others.
So, our questions to anyone who reads this blog is 1) Do you know anyone at Bank of America, Duke Energy and/or Piedmont Natural Gas or any other YWCA financial supporter that you could connect us with to seek corporate sponsorships so that we can help educate the youth/students of YWCA this summer? 2) Do you have a business, work for a business or know someone who works for a business or an individual(s) who would consider an individual/corporate sponsorship?
Planet Improv recently submitted a grant application for consideration for funding from Infusion Fund, which is a public-private partnership between the City of Charlotte, the Foundation for the Carolinas and private partners that benefits artists, creatives and those who utilize arts’ disciplines for educational purposes.
Part of this application requested “letters of support” from Planet Improv’s collaborators for their upcoming 2023-24 school year “Choices” Program, using improvisational theatre to teach youth/students real world lessons to help them handle the day-to-day challenges they face.
We are overjoyed to make these letters of support available to anyone who needs to vet us and let us confirm our sixteen years of “empowering resilience in students through creativity” from such collaborators such as: The Charlotte Mecklenburg School District; Kiwanis; The Arts and Science Council; Mecklenburg County Community Support Services and the Arc of Union/Cabarrus County and many more.
Planet Improv, the YWCA and the youth/students served by their summer sessions thank you in advance for your consideration, assistance, financial support or connection with those who may provide financial support.
Should anyone have any questions, need further clarification or want to communicate in any way about supporting this special opportunity, please reach out to Planet Improv at 704-301-1564 or scott@planetimprov.com.